Into the Future, a 5G Primer

Contents

Introduction to 5G ................................................................................................ 3

The Wide-Ranging Impact of 5G on Business,

Science, and Society ............................................................................................ 3

Why 5G? ............................................................................................................... 6

Healthcare ............................................................................................................ 6

Smart Grids .......................................................................................................... 7

Smart Homes ....................................................................................................... 8

Industrial Automation .......................................................................................... 9

The Transportation Revolution .......................................................................... 10

An Autonomous Future ...................................................................................... 12

A Data Intensive Ecosystem ............................................................................. 12

Transportation as a Service ............................................................................. 13

Transport Pods ................................................................................................... 14

Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 14

Why Electro Rent? .............................................................................................. 15

5G Products

Rohde & Schwarz SMW200A Vector Signal Generator ................................... 16

Keysight M9383A PXIe Microwave Signal Generator ...................................... 17

Keysight E8267D PSG Vector Signal Generator ............................................... 18

Rohde & Schwarz FSW43 Signal and Spectrum Analyzer ............................... 19

Keysight N9040B UXA Signal Analyzer, Multi-touch ........................................ 20

Introduction to 5G

The Wide-Ranging Impact of 5G on Business,

Science, and Society

The potential impact of fifth-generation wireless networks on business,

technology, science, and society cannot be underestimated. Just as the

semiconductor, the personal computer, the internet, smartphones, and the

cloud have improved the way we communicate and collaborate, 5G is set to

increase our reach by shrinking perceptions of distance with exponentially

faster communication, visualization, and workstream processing. With

instantaneous response and imperceptible delay, waiting for downloads, lag,

and connection delays will become a thing of the past.

Various world bodies are currently determining global 5G NR (new radio)

standards, applications, and use cases. They include the 3GPP (Third

Generation Partnership Project), 5GPPP (5G Infrastructure Public Private

Partnership, NGMN (Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance), IEEE 802

LAN/MAN Standards Committee (Local Area Network/Metropolitan Area

Network), the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force), the ITU-R (International

Telecommunications Union Radiocommunication sector), and others. The

goal is a global system that provides massive bandwidth now and into

the future (without the need for network iterations), high availability and

reliability, low latency, and superfast speed.

Prominent global consultancies, respected financial institutions, network

equipment providers, semiconductor companies, device manufacturers, and

telecom service providers are all working to predict, nurture, and bring the 5G

future they envision to life. The vision is for 5G to offer massive bandwidth

improvements (100 times more devices per unit area compared to 4G

LTE), speeds up to 10 Gbps or more, availability and reliability of 99.999%,

and ultra-low latency of 1 ms (i.e., the time between the data request and

transfer) for mission-critical applications. Based on initial testing, these

targets seem within reach.

“The vision is for 5G to offer massive bandwidth improvements, speeds up to

10 Gbps or more, availability and reliability of 99.999%, and ultra-low latency

of 1 ms for mission-critical applications.”

The fast-moving stream of potential applications, however, shows no signs

of slowing down. Changes in transportation, manufacturing, automation

and robotics, energy use, and environmental protection will improve living

standards and quality of life for people around the world. Use cases will be

driven, in part, by ongoing developments in artificial intelligence, machine

learning, neural networks, 3D printing, nanotechnology, quantum computing,

biotechnology, and genomics, leading to some of the most important

scientific and industrial discoveries the world has ever seen.

In transportation, 5G will enable a variety of self-driving vehicles for personal

and commercial use as automated ride hailing, ride-sharing, and public

transportation services. With traffic management systems, connected

sensors can collect traffic information to optimize signal timing, smooth

traffic flow, and reduce emissions. These changes will increase convenience,

productivity, and safety, and reduce costs.

In agriculture, sensors can provide the data needed to analyze soil, crop,

water, machinery, and environmental conditions, make better decisions,

and increase food production to serve a rapidly-growing global population.

In healthcare, connected systems can broaden the reach of patient care by

making it more accessible to underserved communities, especially those in

rural areas.

In manufacturing, distribution, and logistics, industrial automation can

improve productivity and lower costs by allowing machines to communicate

and learn from each other. Entire factory systems can be interconnected and

managed by a centralized system that will enable products to be tracked

across the entire production journey, from manufacturing and distribution to

end user.

As legacy companies—and even entire sectors—are transformed, creative

destruction will bring new companies and business models, innovative

products and services, and numerous inventions and technologies. 5G will

be the catalyst that accelerates the pace of change across society, fueling

economic growth in the coming decades and beyond.

“5G will be the catalyst that accelerates the pace of change across society,

fueling economic growth in the coming decades and beyond.”

In the Internet of Everything (IoE) era, connectivity will be pervasive—always

on, accessible anywhere and everywhere. People will interact with billions

of connected devices, sensors, machines, and vehicles to share massive

amounts of data, high-resolution images, and ultra-HD video. Holographic

avatars, 4K and 8K HD images, ultra-HD video, and virtual/augmented/mixed

reality can be experienced in real time to enhance education, training, sales,

communication, and sales and marketing activities.

“5G will be the catalyst

that accelerates the pace

of change across society,

fueling economic growth

in the coming decades

and beyond.”

Why 5G?

Numerous forthcoming developments—including growing adoption of

cellular use in developing markets, billions of additional connected devices

via the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, cloud robotics, factory

automation, and the seemingly insatiable appetite for HD content—will

drive the need for exponential improvements in wireless bandwidth, speed,

reliability, and latency.

In 2017, for example, HD images, video, and livestreaming accounted for 55%

of all content. By 2023, fully 75% of mobile data traffic worldwide is expected

to be in HD and ultra-HD formats such as 4K, 8K, 3D video, and 360-degree

video. (Source: Ericsson Mobility Report, November 2017.)

Healthcare

With the advent of 5G, connected healthcare becomes possible, including

mass patient monitoring and remote treatment. Wearable sensors and

implantable devices can automatically transmit patient status to doctors

and hospitals. The so-called Body Area Network (BAN) provides the ability

to monitor vital signs, physical activity, medication adherence, and other

health parameters in real time. (Source: Center for Technology Innovation at

BROOKINGS, How 5G Technology Enables the Health Internet of Things.)

The benefits of connected care include increased access for patients,

fewer hospital visits, and lower costs. With 5G, doctors in rural areas can

share patient X-rays or CT scans with other doctors and hospitals for

additional opinions, input, and discussion. For elderly patients, video or

phone conferences based on data from remote sensors and devices can

substitute for office visits, reducing the need for frequent travel to and from

the physician’s office.

For patients with serious conditions, remote devices can serve as a

proactive early warning system, rather than taking the risk that a severe

condition might worsen unexpectedly between office visits. With 5G,

doctors can alter the dosage of medications, monitor pacemaker timing,

and adjust implantable cardiac deﬁbrillators (ICDs), drug delivery systems,

“For patients with serious

conditions, remote

devices can serve as a

proactive early warning

system, rather than

taking the risk that a

severe condition might

worsen unexpectedly.”

and neurostimulators in real time. (Source: springer.com, Remote Patient

Monitoring Within a Future 5G Infrastructure.)

“For patients with serious conditions, remote devices can serve as a

proactive early warning system, rather than taking the risk that a severe

condition might worsen unexpectedly.”

With superfast speed and imperceptible lag, remote robotic telesurgery also

becomes practical, allowing for physical distance between surgeon and

patient. The surgeon manipulates a console that is remotely connected to a

robot that performs the actual surgery. The patient may be in the same

building in a clean room to prevent infection, or in a battlefield hospital ten

thousand miles away.

High frequency mechanisms can compensate for hand tremors during

lengthy or demanding operations. The potential benefits of telesurgery

include improved precision, lower invasiveness, reduced trauma, faster

recovery times, and ultimately, lower healthcare costs.

Smart Grids

5G holds promise to upgrade and improve our industrial electric grids. Since

grid performance is closely tied to latency, 5G will be well suited for such

uses. With latencies of 10 to 13 ms seen in testing, 5G can provide quick

response across the entire connected grid. Utility providers will be able to

predict and adjust to changes in power demand with speed, accuracy, and

“With latencies of 10 to

13 ms seen in testing,

5G can provide quick

response across the

entire connected grid.

Utility providers will

be able to predict and

adjust to changes in

power demand with

speed, accuracy,

and efciency.”

efficiency. Dynamic grids will become more responsive, which is especially

important when it comes to the changes that widespread EV charging and

smart metering will bring.

“With latencies of 10 to 13 ms seen in testing, 5G can provide quick response

across the entire connected grid. Utility providers will be able to predict and

adjust to changes in power demand with speed, accuracy, and efficiency.”

Smart grid management in city centers can be used to streamline service

delivery and match resources with demand. Use of water, gas, electricity,

and street lighting can be monitored and adjusted in real time. Smart lighting

sensors can dim street lights when pedestrians or traffic are not present,

smart water sensors can adjust the quality of drinking water, and internet-

connected trash cans can signal for waste collection and removal, which can

also be automated to improve sanitation and reduce costs.

Real-time availability notifications for parking spaces and electric-vehicle

charging stations can be provided as users arrive in the local area.

Automation of public transportation can improve user safety, convenience,

and on-time reliability. The result is increased efficiency, less environmental

impact, less human intervention, and lower cost.

Smart Homes

A multitude of devices will be connected to the internet via home gateways

and routers and accessible via smartphone. Self-adjusting HVAC systems

and smart sensors will be used to monitor and control environmental

conditions. For example, temperature sensors can continually adjust

between efficiency and comfort or signal HVAC adjustments when windows

or doors are open and lighting sensors can turn off lights or music in

unoccupied rooms.

Smart home systems include appliance control (i.e., washers, dryers,

refrigerators/freezers, ovens/microwaves), security systems (i.e., motion

sensors, cameras, lock control), and entertainment devices (i.e., Bluetooth

enabled speakers for music, smart speakers/voice controlled assistants). 5G

will also bring improvements in cloud gaming and virtual reality applications

for training, education, marketing, sales, and entertainment.

Industrial Automation

The advent of machine learning and machine-to-machine (M2M)

communication will enable automated machines to “talk” to each other, share

information, and learn how to make improvements, largely on their own.

Using connected sensors and cameras to monitor output and adjust in real

time, factory machines will be able to share massive streams of data and

video with each other to coordinate production—either within a factory or

across a global, multi-factory ecosystem.

“Machine-to-machine

(M2M) communication

will enable automated

machines to “talk” to each

other, share information,

and learn how to make

improvements, largely on

their own.”

“Machine-to-machine (M2M) communication will enable automated

machines to “talk” to each other, share information, and learn how to make

improvements, largely on their own.”

Subsequently, data can be analyzed by humans or machine-learning systems

to gain additional insight. With automation, less rework is required as error

rates are reduced. Efficiency also increases with higher throughput and

less human intervention, all of which leads to improvements in quality and

satisfaction. (Source: Developers Alliance, Internet of Things, Manufacturing

IoT From the Factory Floor.)

As Industrial IoT (IIoT) evolves, multiple systems, factories, and logistics

providers will be connected to a centralized IT system that provides total

visibility to all manufacturing and supply chain events. Radio Frequency

Identification (RFID) tags can be used to track products as they move

through the distribution system, informing managers about issues that need

resolution.

Today, companies use IIoT largely for predictive maintenance and to improve

safety. For example, sensors are used to deactivate a machine if humans

inadvertently cross a predetermined safety zone. Although IIoT is in its

infancy, it is expected to be the most significant growth category by 2023,

when it overtakes consumer IoT. (Source: The Mobile Economy 2018, GSMA

Intelligence.)

The Transportation Revolution

In the transportation sector, a revolution is about to occur—although it may

take a decade or longer to play out. Automakers are preparing by entering

strategic partnerships, making acquisitions, and collaborating with chipmakers,

navigation/guidance suppliers, autonomous vehicle producers, and camera,

radar, and LIDAR manufacturers. What is driving this change? Economics.

It is estimated that autonomous vehicles could generate $800B per year in

2030 and $7TR annually on a global basis by 2050—$2T of which will be in

the Americas. From 2035, when self-driving vehicle production is expected

to ramp up globally, to 2050, when autonomous vehicles are expected to

account for nearly half of all vehicles sold, the very nature of the industry

may change. (Source: Intel and Strategy Analytics, Accelerating the Future:

The Economic Impact of the Emerging Passenger Economy.) One-to-one

vehicle ownership and new-vehicle sales to consumers are likely to decline

as automated transportation services become less expensive and more

widespread. This will be driven mainly by economics as the single-largest

cost, the driver, will be removed from the equation with automation. As

a potential offset, sales of self-driving vehicles to business entities and

commercial fleets may increase.

“One-to-one vehicle ownership, and new-vehicle sales to consumers, are

likely to decline as automated transportation services become less expensive

and more widespread.”

The components, software, and hardware for self-driving vehicles already

exist today. Many companies maintain autonomous test fleets, some of

which are in operation on public roads. It has been estimated that the cost

of self-driving vehicle components is in the range of $200,000 (excluding the

vehicle itself), but this is mainly for low-volume, custom machines in a testing

environment. Costs will scale as more vehicles populate our roadways and

technology results in more innovative, cost-effective solutions, such as the

recent move to solid-state LIDAR.

An Autonomous Future

Based on public information, Waymo (a division of Alphabet, Inc., Google’s

parent company) appears to have a significant lead in experience with

autonomous vehicles. The company began researching such vehicles in 2009

and now has the third-largest self-driving fleet in California. They also have

numerous pilot programs in operation around the country, including testing

on public roads in Arizona, Texas, Washington, Michigan, and Georgia.

Waymo has accumulated six million miles of pilotless driving experience on

public roads. They have also logged five billion computer-simulated miles

with 10,000 virtual vehicles that operate 24 hours a day, testing various

driving scenarios and strengthening the company’s self-learning database.

(Source: Forbes.com, Waymo Is Millions of Miles Ahead In Robot Car Tests;

Does It Need A Billion More?)

Apple recently registered the second-largest self-driving fleet in California.

Up to this point, Apple had maintained a low profile with its autonomous

program, so it’s hard to discern how far the company has progressed. It has

been suggested that Apple may choose to sell its autonomous systems to

other automakers rather than creating its own self-driving vehicle. (Source:

The Drive, Apple’s California Self-Driving Car Test Fleet Continues to Grow).

GM’s acquisition of Cruise Automation will hasten their progress in this

area with the most self-driving vehicles in California and promises of an

automated ride-hailing service in 2018.

A Data Intensive Ecosystem

While an individual autonomous vehicle by itself would not require 5G to

operate, the vision is to create an autonomous vehicle ecosystem where

vehicles could communicate with each other (V2V); with traffic management

systems (V2I) to optimize signal timing and traffic flow; with networks and

data centers (V2N) to exchange and analyze information; and with pedestrians

(V2P) to provide traffic info and intersection alerts. Collectively known as

vehicle-to-everything (V2X), driving will become safer and more efficient with

less congestion, lower emissions, and reduced environmental impact.

The volume of data generated by self-driving vehicle sensors, cameras, and

processors is massive. Intel estimates that each autonomous vehicle may

generate up to four terabytes of information, per-vehicle per-day (assuming

1.5 hours of driving). For reference, the entire collection of printed books in

the Library of Congress is estimated to be 10 terabytes (Source: CNN.com

politics). This means that each autonomous vehicle would generate enough

data to equal to the entire printed volume in the Library of Congress every

3.75 hours of driving.

“This means that each autonomous vehicle would generate enough data to

equal to the entire printed volume in the Library of Congress every 3.75 hours

of driving.”

Given this, dedicated data centers will be required to receive, store, and

analyze information and share it with other vehicles in the network so they

can “think, learn, and act without human intervention”. (Source: intc.com, Intel

Editorial: For Self-Driving Cars, There’s Big Meaning Behind One Big Number:

4 Terabytes.)

Transportation as a Service

Other modes of transport, such as ride-hailing and ride-sharing services,

robotaxis, and transport pods—collectively known as Transportation as a

Service (Taas) or Mobility as a Service (Maas)—will also become more

common, especially in urban areas. Because the primary cost of these

services (the driver) has been removed, user fees should decline, making

“This means that each

autonomous vehicle

would generate enough

data to equal to the entire

printed volume in the

Library of Congress every

3.75 hours of driving.”

them more popular. As the financial gap between one-to-one vehicle

ownership and on-demand transportation services widens, some may forego

personal car ownership altogether.

Transport Pods

Time that was previously spent driving can now be used in other ways.

Without the need for a steering wheel, pedals, or mirrors, transport pods can

prioritize passenger comfort, entertainment, and convenience over interior

ergonomics and practicality. Imagine luxurious appointments such as wood

floors or big-screen televisions, and an interior more akin to a living room

than a traditional car. Hypothetically, pods might even offer mobile business

meetings, meals, health screenings, or even hair styling services. (Source:

theverge.com.)

“Without the need for a steering wheel, pedals, or mirrors, transport pods can

prioritize passenger comfort, entertainment, and convenience over interior

ergonomics and practicality.”

Conclusion

It would not require much of a stretch to say that one day soon, we will

look back and acknowledge that 5G was a significant factor in the growth,

advancement, and evolution of our society. Such a powerful enabler can

serve as a force multiplier to hasten ongoing research and development in

a variety of fields, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, neural

networks, nanotechnology, quantum computing, and supercomputing.

The result may be a complete rethink of the way we create, innovate, and

manufacture products, conduct business and scientific research, and

transfer knowledge between humans and machines. All of which should lead

to increased efficiency and productivity in industries ranging from agriculture,

healthcare, and manufacturing, to automotive, transportation, and utilities, all

for the greater good of the environment and our society.

As a leading global provider of testing and measurement equipment, Electro

Rent is committed to advancing 5G testing solutions that help clients reduce

costs and accelerate first-to-market 5G solutions and applications.

Why Electro Rent?

Electro Rent is enabling a successful transition to 5G by offering first-

to-market solutions at every stage of the test lifecycle. We provide

semiconductor, network, equipment, and device manufacturers with efficient

solutions that can reduce testing and measurement costs.

• Our large inventory ensures that you get the equipment you need, when

you need it.

• We stand behind our products with support and service; our calibration

facilities are world class.

• If there’s anything you don’t like, just let us know and we’ll do our best to

resolve it to your satisfaction.

• Our advisors recommend a variety of easy-to-start rental and financing

programs to fit your situation.

We proudly offer 5G test solutions from Rohde & Schwarz and Keysight,

world leaders in RF test and measurement.

Let us help you on your journey to a 5G future.

5G Signal Creation

Rohde & Schwarz SMW200A Vector Signal Generator,

100kHz to 40GHz

Electro Rent Part No. RS-SMW200A-40

The SMW200A is the vector signal generator for the most demanding 5G

applications. It offers flexibility, performance, and intuitive operation for

generating complex, digitally-modulated signals of high quality for 5G LTE

Advanced to 2G applications.

Applications

• Pre-5G NR Signal Generation

• Antenna Array Testing - Conducted

and Over-the-Air

• 5G Waveform Candidates

Features

• Single side band phase noise typ. -135dBc @1GHz, 20kHz carrier offset

• High output power up to +18dBm (PEP)

• Analog and digital modulation

• Cellular modulations

Keysight M9383A PXIe Microwave Signal Generator,

1 MHz to 44 GHz

Electro Rent Part No. KT-M9383A-F44

The M9383A is a modular microwave signal generator test solution for

design validation. It can be efficiently leveraged into a manufacturing

environment with the flexibility to solve today’s pre-5G LTE Advanced

requirements and can be upgraded to your future test needs.

Applications

• Modular test solution for design validation that can be efficiently

leveraged into manufacturing

• Flexibility to solve your immediate test needs, but upgradable for what

comes next – whether that’s more frequency coverage or a rapid shift to

high volume production.

• Pre-5G signal confidence you need with 1% EVM @ 28 GHz, 800 MHz

bandwidth

Features

• Single side band phase noise typ. -137dBc @1GHz, 20kHz carrier offset

• High output power @1GHz, -90 to +19dBm

• Analog and digital modulation

• Cellular modulation formats from 2G to

Pre-5G LTE Advanced

Keysight E8267D PSG Vector Signal Generator,

100kHz to 44GHz

Electro Rent Part No. KT-E8267D-544

The E8267D vector signal generator is used to test advanced receivers,

with realistic wideband radar, EV, Satcom, and 5G applications. It offers up

to 4GHz of bandwidth (with external AWG see M8190A), allowing you to

simulate complex electromagnetic environments and reduce complex signal

creation times.

Applications

• Waveform playback and real-time

• Antenna Array Testing - Conducted and

Over-the-Air

• 5G Waveform Creation with signal

studio application

• Signal optimizer with K3101A

Features

• Single-side-band phase noise typ. -143dBc @1GHz, 20kHz carrier offset

• High output power @1GHz, -130 to +21dBm

• Analog and digital modulation

• Cellular modulation formats from 2G to

Pre-5G LTE Advanced

5G Signal Analysis

Rohde & Schwarz FSW43 Signal and Spectrum Analyzer,

2Hz to 43.5GHz

Electro Rent Part No. RS-FSW43

The FSW43 Signal and spectrum analyzer is designed with 5G measurement

analysis in mind. It offers low phase noise, wide analysis bandwidth (2GHz)

for complex LTE Advanced applications, with an easy to use GUI.

Applications

• Used in aerospace and defense

applications (ASD)

• Wideband communication systems for military

and commercial use

• 5G Waveform analysis

• Development of oscillators for radar systems and complex LTE Advanced

applications

Features

• Analysis bandwidth – 10MHz standard,

upgradable to 2GHz

• Displayed average noise level (DANL) +154dBm at 2GHz (1Hz resolution)

• SSB phase noise at 10kHz offset -134dBc

• Cellular modulation analysis from 2G to

Pre-5G LTE Advanced

Keysight N9040B UXA Signal Analyzer, Multi-touch,

2 Hz to 50 GHz

Electro Rent Part No. KT-N9040B-550

The N9040B Signal analyzer offers real-time spectrum performance analysis

up to 1GHz for deeper views of complex and challenging 5G signals.

Clean spectral purity with leading phase noise measurements. Extendable

frequency range to 110GHz with external smart mixers.

Applications

• Utilize application measurements that range from parametric to wireless

measurements including 5G LTE Advanced, WCDMA, phase noise, noise

figure, analog demodulations

• 5G Waveform analysis and vector analysis with VSA software 89601B

• Satellite, radar, EW, fast-hopping signal analysis

Features

• Analysis bandwidth – 25MHz standard,

upgradable to 1GHz

• Real-time bandwidth optional to 510MHz

• Displayed average noise level (DANL) +174dBm at 1GHz (1Hz resolution)

• SSB phase noise at 10kHz offset -136dBc

• Cellular modulation analysis from 2G to

Pre-5G LTE Advanced

• 5G NR (new radio) with N9085EMOE

application software

8511 Fallbrook Ave, Suite 200

West Hills, CA 91405

O: 818-787-2100

F: 818-786-4354

electrorent.com

About Electro Rent

Electro Rent is a leading global provider of test and technology solutions that

enable its customers to accelerate innovation and optimize investments.

Electro Rent’s rental, lease, sales, and asset management solutions serve

industry-leading innovators in communications, aerospace and defense,

automotive, energy, education, and general electronics and have done so

since 1965.

For additional information, contact us at 800.553.2255 or visit us online at

electrorent.com.